Zinke’s client list includes industries he regulated at Interior: report

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is now working for some of the same oil and mining companies he regulated while at the helm of the Department of Interior, according to Bloomberg. 

Documents reviewed by the news service show Zinke is working as a consultant for pipeline supplier Cressman Tubular Products Corp. and Oasis Petroleum Inc., which had previously donated to the former Montana congressman’s campaign. Zinke also joined the board of a small gold mining company in April, where he is slated to receive $90,000 in consulting fees.

{mosads}Zinke resigned from the Trump administration in December of last year amid a swirl of ethics investigations. 

He has dismissed accusations of corruption and conflict of interest, telling Bloomberg that probes into his actions as secretary are “BS.”

“There’s an allegation and the opposition demands an investigation with great fanfare,” he said in May. “Washington has become a city that has a lot of anger, a lot of hatred, a lot of fake news and false allegations. The two sides are trying to destroy each other rather than work together.”

Zinke is also working to promote U.S. natural gas overseas as well as working as an adviser for Turnberry Solutions, a lobbying firm.

“I promote energy,” he told Bloomberg. “It is better to produce energy in this country with reasonable regulation then watch it get produced overseas with none.”

Federal law blocks government officials from lobbying for a year after they leave their post, and an executive order from President Trump bars such actions for five years after leaving federal service.

Zinke said he’s abiding by the law because he is advising companies but not lobbying.